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DCS rules require permanency plans within 30 days and trauma‑informed parent education before reunification in extended abuse/neglect cases
Summary
Department of Children's Services told the committee permanency plans must be completed within 30 days of foster‑care placement and that parents whose children remain in custody six months due to abuse/neglect must complete trauma‑informed education before return; members asked about cross‑jurisdictional placements and undocumented children.
Jim Layman, legislative director for the Department of Children's Services, presented rule updates aligning agency practice with recent statutory changes (Tennessee Code Annotated 37‑2‑403). The amendments require a permanency plan within 30 days of a child entering foster care, set out responsibilities for parents, the department and case managers, and require a trauma‑informed education class for parents when a child has been in state custody six months or longer due to abuse or neglect.
Members sought clarification about application to undocumented children and whether state courts or federal processes take precedence when parents are outside the country; DCS officials said the department cooperates with federal counterparts and assesses each case individually to determine safe permanency. The agency said the permanency plan is a collaborative child and family team product and that the majority of removed children ultimately return home when family plans are completed. The committee moved the rules with a positive recommendation (Senate recorded five ayes and one no).
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